Spark-plug.



. C. W. BECK. A

SPARK PLUG.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. la. 1910. Y1, 13%,99fi, Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

provide a yielding seat for the inner edge of the said nut portion. In the ordinary of the plug. I dispense with this firing wire and insert in said cylindrical portion a split metal sleeve 13, said sleeve normally being slightly larger in diameter than the interior of the said cylindrical part of the plug casing so that'it may be forced into said casing and held therein by friction. This sleeve covers the interior of the cylinder 3 and protects it, the soot being deposited on the interior of said sleeve instead of on the plug base. This sleeve is formed at its inner end with a flange 14: which extends outwardly over and covers the inner edge of the plug casing. This fiange, of.course, is slightly smaller in diameter than the cylindrical part 3 of the casing so that it may be readily withdrawn with the spark plug through the threaded opening in the cylinder side.

On the electrode 15 of the insulator 9 is screwed, or otherwise detachably secured, a firing wire 16 which extends outwardly from said electrode and over-lies the flange 14 of the split sleeve so that the spark will jump fromsaid firing wire to the sleeve flange or-to the enginecylinder. An insulator 9 is shown in Fig. 1 as reduced at its lower end to form the stem 17 through which the electrode 15 extends. Fitting this stem is a removable section 18 preferably. formed of porcelain or other suitable insulating. material. A washer 19 is preferably interposed between the body of the insulator and the upper end of the removable section 18 so that said removable section may be-securely clamped in place by the firing wire without danger of breaking the said section. By forming the inner end of the insulator in two telescoping parts, said parts. serve as a double insulator and remove any' possibility of a leak from the electrode throhghjshe insulator.

In Fig. 5 the insulator is shown with a removable section 20, an insulating washer 21 being interposed between the body of the insulator and the removable portion in order to prevent any sparking or leakage of current at the joints between the two sec- 1 tion applied to a spark plug of-ordinary construction, the removable insulator section-being shown i'n the form of a cap or cover 17 Thefiring wire is also shown as screwed to the end of the electrode'carried by the insulator and servingas means for From the foregoing it will be readily understood that to thoroughly clean the plug it will only be necessary to detach the split sleeve and the section or covering of the porcelain. These two parts may then be cleaned, or if desired, a clean sleeve and a clean section or covering for the insulator may be replaced in the plug. The soot-covered parts may be either discarded entirely or laid aside to be cleaned at a convenient time. By providing this means for cleaning that end of the plug subject to the engine cylinder gases, the base of the plug may be made in two parts as shown, and said two parts practically permanently secured together to retain the insulator therein as it willnot be necessary to detach said insulator from the base in order to clean it.- This is desirable for the reason that when the packing gasket 11 is compressed to form a gas-tight joint, it is of advantage to permit it to remainundisturbed. In the ordinary form of spark plug the insulator must be frequently removed in order to cleanit,

gas-tight joint. The porcelain is frequently broken when securing it in place in the base.

It will, therefore, be seen that I provide a spark plug of simple and cheap construction which may be readily cleaned.

I desire it understood that the insulator may be made of porcelain or any other insulating material. The sleeve 13 may be made of any suitable material.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A spark plug comprising a tubular base, an insulator supported by said-base and carrying an electrode, said insulator extending through the base and the inner end thereof being smaller in diameter than the interiorof the inner portion of the base whgreby a gas space of considerable capacity is formed within the base and around the inner part of the insulator, and removable protectors for the inner end of the base and the inner end of the insulator, said protectors serving as means to prevent the deposit of carbon on the inner surface of the base and the exterior of the insulator.

2-. A spark plug comprising a tubular base, an insulator pupported by said base and carrying an e ectrode, said insulator extending through the base and the inner end thereof being smaller in diameter than the interior of'the inner portion of the base,

and removable protectors for theinner end of the base-and the inner end of the insulator, the insulator andits protector being considerably smaller than the interior of the base protectonwhereby a' gas space of considera le capacity will be formed around said insulator protector.

3. A spark plug' comprising a tubular base, an insulator supported by said ,base and carrying an electrode, said insulator extending through the base and the inner end thereof being smaller in diameter than the interior of the inner portion of the base, and a thin removable protector for the in- War end of the insulator, said protector being out of contact with the base whereby a gas space of considerable capacity will be formed between said protector and the inner surface of the base and said protector Will serve as a means toprevent the deposit of carbon on the insulator.

lug comprising a tubular or supported by said base 4:. A spark p base, an insula and carrying an electrode, said insulator eX- tending through the base and the inner end thereof being smaller in diameter than the interior of the inner portion of the base, and

a removable protector of non-conducting material covering the inner end of the insulator, said insulator and protector being smallerin diameter than the'interior of the base, whereby a considerable gas space will be formed around said protector and said protector will prevent the deposit of carbon on the insulator.

' 5. A spark plug comprising a' tubular base, an insulator supported by saidbase and carrying an electrode, said insulator eX- tending through the base and the inner end thereof being smaller in diameter than the interior of the inner portion of the base,

a thin removable protecting and nonconductingsheath or covering on the inner end of the insulator within the base said insulator and sheath being considerably smaller in diameter than the interior of the base,

and a detachable firing pin carried by. the

electrode and serving to hold the sheath or protector in position on the insulator.

6. A spark plug comprising a tubular base, an insulator supported by said base and carrying an electrode, said insulator extending through the base and the inner end thereof bein smaller in diameter than the interior of t e inner portion of the base, ,a thin removable protecting and nonconducting sheath or covering on the inner end of the insulator Within the base, said insulator and sheath being considerably smaller in diameter than the interior of the base, and a detachable'firing pin carried by the electrode and serving to hold the sheath or protector in position on the insulator, and a .thin removable protector of conducting material for the interior of the base.

7. A spark plug comprising a tubular base, an insulator supported by said base and carrying an electrode, said insulator ex- .tending through the base and the inner end thereof being smaller in diameter than the interior of the inner portion of the base, a thin removable protecting and nonconducting sheath or covering on the inner end of the insulator Within the base, said insulator and sheath being considerably smaller in diameter than the interior of the base, a thin removable protector 'of conducting material for the interior of the base, and a firing pin secured to the electrode and serving as means to prevent the detachment of either one of the protectors. i.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses this 17th day of February, 1910. 7

CHARLES W. BECK.

Witnesses:

WM. R. DAvIs, JoHN Arrnnn. 

